Pendant control device



Jan. 15, 1963 J. H. BENT ETAL 3,073,347

PENDANT CONTROL DEVICE Filed Feb. 2, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 JOHN H. BENT RICHARD H. OLSSON INVENTORS.

ATTORNEY Jan. 15, 1963 J. H. BENT ETAL 3,073,347

PENDANT CONTROL DEVICE Filed Feb. 2, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JOHN H. BENT E .3 manna H. OLSSON v INVENTORS.

ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,073,347 PENDANT CONTROL DEVICE John H. Bent, Fullerton, and Richard H. Olsson, La Puente, Calif., assiguors to Gardner-Denver Company, a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 2, 1959, Ser. No. 790,406 6 Claims. (Cl. 137636.1)

This invention relates to a pendant control device for hoists, and the like, and more particularly to a pendant control device having a single control member for controlling independently a plurality of separate functions.

An object of this invention is to provide a novel pendant control device for controlling four separate functions.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel pendant control device wherein four independent control elements may be actuated selectively by a single control member.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel pendant control device having a universally connected rigid pendant control member.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel pendant control device adapted to be suitably connected to a device to be controlled.

The invention provides a housing, for attachment to a controlled device, containing at least four control elements which may be air or hydraulic valves or electric switches, for example. An actuator rod ismounted in the housing for axial and rotational movement. Operating elements associated with the actuator shaft selectively actuate four independent control elements when the actuator shaft is rotated or moved axially by means of an attached pendant control rod. 2

The novel features of the invention, as well as additional objects and advantages thereof, will be understood more fully from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which: I

FIGURE 1 is a sectional side view of a pendant control device showing two control valves and the control mechanism for actuating four control valves;

FIGURE .2 is an elevation view, partiallyin section, the sections taken along the line 2-2 ofFIGURE 1, showing parts of two other control valves and the control mechanism for actuating four valves;

, FIGURE 3 is a top view taken along the line 3-3 of,

FIGURE 1; and 7 FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary view of an alternative em bodiment wherein the control elements are electric switches. a

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the pendant control device is provided withfour control elements which are poppet type air valves for controlling bleed type control mechanisms for a trolley mounted hoist and an associated power trolley for moving the hoist along a beam. A hoist control mechanism, of the type which may be controlled by the pendant control device, is shown and described in Lungerhausen Patent No. 2,743,708, issued May, 1956.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the pendant, control device is housed in a generally cylindrical hous-' ing 11 having a removable bottom plate 13 and a dome like cover 15. The housing 11 includes a tapped boss 17 in which an arm 19 may be secured for the purpose of mounting the device on any suitable support or device to be controlled. The device is to be mounted generallyin the vertical position shown in the drawings. .f

Spaced peripherally within the housing 11 are four vertical bores within which are mounted four poppet type air ice cylindrical member fitted in the lower end of the valve bore and having a smaller vertical bore. The valve member 25 includes an upper cylindrical portion and an integral stem 31 which extends downward through and beyond the valve seat bore. The valve stem, at the base of the valve member 25, has a diameter substantially the same as that of the bore in the valve seat and is fitted with an O-ring. The valve stem then tapers to a reduced diameter portion so that the amount of air flowing through the valve is dependent upon the distance the valve member is raised off the seat. The lower end of the valve stem againhas a diameter substantially the same as that of the bore in the valve seat to guide the valve member.

A port 33 in the valve seat communicates with a port in the interior housing wall to vent air passing through the valve into the interior of the housing. Ports (not shown) in' the bottom plate 13 provide means for venting this air to atmosphere.

The valve cap 27 is threaded into the top of the valve bore and seals the top of the bore with an O-ring to define, with the valve seat 23- and valve member 25, a valve chamber. The spring 29, compressed between the cap and the valve member, biases or loads the valve member into seated position and performs other functions to be described. A tapped hole 35 communicates the valve chamber with the exterior of the housing. An air hose 37, having a suitable fitting, is fitted in the hole 35 and may be connected to. a valve mechanism as shown in the Lungerhausen patent. The air hose 37 corresponds to the air hose 103 of the Lungerhausen patent.

Two other valves 21C, and 21D, shown partially in FIGURE 2, areide'ntical in structure to the above described valve but are inverted so that the respective valve stems 31C and 31D extend upward rather than downward from the valve bores. Each valve 21 has an associated tapped hole 35 in the housing, the holes being spaced 90 apart around the circumference of the housing. The seats for the valvesZlC and 21D are also provided with vent ports (33)'to-.the interior of the housing. Vent ports 39 provide for venting air from the interior of the housing to atmosphere. I

I --A U -shaped bracket 41-is bolted in inverted position to the .top of the housing 11. A stud 43 is fixed to the transverseleg of the bracket 41 and extends through a holein. the, cover 15 forthe purpose of securing the cover to the housing 11 by means of a nut. A vertical slot 45 g is provided in each vertical leg of the bracket 41 and these slots define a control plane which passes through to one side of the above mentioned control plane but the arms 53 have concave cam surfaces which curve across the control plane. A tab 55 extends horizontally from the base of the cam to engage the stem 31 of poppet valve 21C.

The lower cam 51 is also a generally U-shaped member pivotally mounted at its baseon the pins 47 and having upwardlylextending arms 57 also lying just within the vervalves 21A, B,C and D. Two of the valves 21A and 21B are illustrated in FIGURE 1, each including a valve seat 23, a valve member 25 which seats on the seat 23,,a cap 27, and a coil spring 29. The valve seat 23' consists ,of a

tical legs of the bracket 41. The lower cam is disposed generally on the side of the control plane opposite from the rise cam but the arms 57 have convex cam surfaces which curve across the control plane. The lower cam is provided with. a tab. 59 extending horizontally from,

the base to engage the stem 31D of poppet valve 21D.

An actuator shaft 71 disposed within the housing, the lower portion 73 of the shaft having a square cross section and'the upper portion 75 having a smaller circular cross section thereby forming a shoulder between the upper and lower portions. A retainer ring 77 is fixed to the shaft adjacent its upper end. A coil spring 79 is disposed about the upper portion 75 of the shaft, compressed between a washer bearing against the retainer ring 77, at its upper end, and a stop washer 81 which bears against the above mentioned shoulder, at its lower end. Stop washer 81 rests on an internal flange 83, provided within the housing 11, by means of which the actuator shaft 71 and its associated parts are supported. Spacer washers 85 may be placed between the stop washer 81 and the spring 79 to increase the compression of the spring in order to neutralize the weight of the actuator shaft and its associated parts for the purpose of maintaining the actuator shaft in a neutral axial position. It will be seen that the weight pending from the actuator shaft may be varied.

A cam engaging ring 91 is rotatably mounted on the actuator shaft, at its upper end, bearing against the retainer ring 77 and is secured against axial movement with respect to the shaft by means of an additional retainer ring 93, for example. Two horizontal, oppositely extending pins 95 are mounted in the retainer ring and extend through the bracket slots 45. A pair of outer rollers 97 and a pair of inner rollers 99 are mounted on the pins 95 and are suitably spaced and retained on the pins so that the outer rollers 97 ride in the bracket slots 45 and the inner rollers 99 engage the cam surfaces of the rise cam 49 and the lower cam 51. The outer rollers riding in the bracket slots prevent the cam engaging ring from rotating with respect to the housing and maintain the rollers in the control plane. Washers fixed to the outer ends of the pins 95 prevent axial movement of the pins with respect to the bracket 41.

The length of the actuator shaft 71 between the stop washer 81 and the retainer ring 77, which contain the spring 79, is such that when the stop washer rests on the housing flange 83, the cam engaging ring 91 and its associated rollers are positioned at a point centered between the ends of the bracket slots 45. This position is the neutral axial position of the actuator shaft. When the actuator shaft is in this position the spring loaded valves 21C and 21D are seated and the respective valve stems hold the rise and lower cams in a position where their respective cam surfaces lie adjacent the inner rollers 99. When the actuator shaft is moved downward,

the spring 79 is compressed and the inner rollers 99 bear against the cam surfaces of the lower cam 51, which curve across the control plane, pivoting the lower cam to unseat valve 21D. When the actuator shaft is moved upward, the spring 79 is merely carried up with the shaft and the inner rollers 99 bear against the cam surfaces of the rise cam 49, which curve across the control plane, pivoting the rise cam to unseat valve 21C. When the actuator shaft is returned to the neutral axial position, from either direction of axial movement, the spring loaded valves seat themselves and the cams are returned to the original positions shown in the drawings.

A rotary cam 11d, generally cylindrical in shape, is mounted for rotation on the bottom plate 13. This cam has a reduced diameter portion which extends, through an opening in the bottom plate and is retained for rotation with respect to the bottom plate by means of a washer and retainer ring for example. The cam 111.

has an internal square bore, corresponding in size to the square portion 73 of the actuator shaft, to provide a squaredrive or spline drive whereby the cam 111 is r0.- tated with the actuator shaft, but axial movement of the actuator shaft is'permitted with respect to the cam. A cam surface 113 is provided on the upper end of the cam 111 about the periphery thereof. The cam surface is flat for. substantially 180 and then a rise portion is provided. Intermediate the rise portion a sharp rise or dog 115 is provided which acts as a stop to be described.

A pair of follower arms 121 are each pivotally mounted atone end, on either side of the earn 111, in brackets 123 fixed to the bottom plate 13. The arms lie parallel to each other and include cam follower rollers 125 which ride on the rotary cam surface 113. The follower arms 121 are positioned to engage the valve stems 31 of the poppet valves 21A and 2113. In the neutral rotational position of the actuator shaft and cam 111, both of the rollers 125 are riding on the flat portion of the cam surface adjacent to the rise portion. When the actuator shaft is rotated in one direction or the other from the neutral rotational position, the rise portion engages one or the other of the rollers 125 to pivot its respective arm upward and to unseat its respective valve. The spring force of the valves is sufficient to effect return rotation of the cam and actuator shaft to the neutral rotational position. The sharp rise 115 on the cam surface engages the rollers 125 to limit rotation of the cam to approximately 45 from the neutral position. This amount of rotation is sufficient to obtain full throttle effect from the poppet valves.

A universal joint 131, or other flexible coupling, is fixed to the lower end of the actuator shaft 71 and an elongated control rod or stick 133 is fixed to the lower end of the universal joint. The rod 133 may be any desired length depending on the distance of the housing 11 from a convenient operating position. A rubber grip 135, for example, is placed on the lower end of the control rod to facilitate axial and rotational movement of the control rod by an operator. Since control rods of diiferent lengths may be used, the accompanying difference in weight is compensated for by adjusting the compression of the spring 79. This is accomplished by the use of the above mentioned spacer washers 85.

The above described pendant control device may be used for controlling an air driven trolley hoist and an associated power trolley for example. The valves 21C and 21D may be used for controlling the hoist and may be connected in a manner such that when the control rod 133 is moved upward, the rise cam 49 is pivoted to actuate the valve 21C to raise the hoist load, and when the actuator shaft is moved downward, the lower cam 51 will be pivoted to actuate the valve 21D to lower the hoist load. The valves 21A and 21B may be used to 1 control the power trolley and may beconnected in a manner such that, when the control is rotated in one direction, the valve 21A will be actuated to drive the power trolley in a forward direction and, when the control rod is rotated in the other direction, the valve 21B will be actuated to drive the power trolley in a reverse direction.

While the above description of a preferred embodiment of this invention describes bleed-type poppet valves, it will be apparent that other types of air or hydraulic valves may be substituted for the poppet valves without departing from the scope of this invention.

Referring now to FIGURE 4 of the drawing, a fragmentary sectional view of a pendant control device similar to that of FIGURES l-3 is shown. In this figure, however, a'spring loaded button-type switch 141A has been substituted for the poppet valve 21A. In FIGURE 4 the parts of the structure corresponding to that of FIG- URE 1 areidentified by the same reference numerals, The switches 141 are mounted in the valve bores of the housing 11. A cylindrical guide sleeve 143 is fixed in the lower end of the bore. A cap 145 is threaded into the upper end of the bore and has a lower portion 147 of in sulating material. The guide sleeve 143 and the cap 145, with the Walls of the valve bore, define a switch chamber, and an insulating sleeve liner 149 is placed within the switch chamber. material, has an upper cylindrical portion which rides within the switch chamber and an integral stem153 which extends downward through and beyond the guide sleeve A switchmember 151, of insulating and the switch member 151 to bias the switch member into seated position against the guide sleeve 1423. Switch contacts 157 and 159 are mounted respectively on the switch member 151 and the insulating portion 147 of the cap. These contacts are positioned out of engagement when the switch member 151 is seated but are disposed to make contact with each other when the switch member is unseated or raised by its associated cam follower arm 121. A hole 161 in the housing 11 communicates the switch chamber with the exterior of the housing. A conductor cable 163, connected to the device to be controlled, is secured to the housing in the hole 161 and conductor wires 165 are connected respectively to the switch contacts 157 and 159.

Four switches, as above described, are disposed in the housing 11 in the same configuration as that of the valve in the preferred embodiment and would be actuated in the same manner. It will be apparent that other types of switches might be substituted for the switch above described without departing from the scope of the invention.

What has been described is a novel pendant control de vice having a single pendant control member which may be reciprocated axially or rotated to selectively actuate four independent control elements which may be air or hydraulic valves or electric switches.

What is claimed is:

1. In a pendant control device: a housing; a plurality of control elements mounted in said housing; an actuator shaft mounted in said housing for axial and rotational movement; means providing a neutral axial position for said shaft; two cam members each mounted for movement in said housing for actuating a control element, a cam engaging element rotatably mounted on said shaft, said cam members disposed to be moved selectively by said cam engaging element when said shaft is moved respectively in one direction or the other from said neutral axial position, means providing a neutral rotational position for said shaft; a rotary cam mounted for rotation with said shaft, two follower arms each mounted for movement in said housing for actuating a control element; and said follower arms disposed to be moved selectively by said rotary cam when said shaft is rotated respectively in one direction or the other from said neutral rotational position.

2. A pendant control device comprising a housing; a plurality of control elements mounted in said housing, an actuator shaft mounted in said housing for axial and rotational movement; means for maintaining said shaft in a neutral axial position; two cam members pivotally mounted in said housing each having means for engaging and actuating a control element, a cam engaging element axially fixed and rotatably mounted on said shaft; said cam members disposed to be pivoted selectively by said cam engaging element when said shaft is moved respectively in one direction or the other from said neutral axial position, a rotary cam rotationally fixed and axially movable on said shaft; two follower arms each pivotally mounted in said housing for engaging and actuating a control element; said follower arms disposed to be pivoted selectively by said rotary cam when said shaft is rotated respectively in one direction or the other from a neutral rotational position; and means for moving said actuator shaft axially and rotationally.

3. A pendant control device comprising a housing; a

plurality of spring loaded control elements mounted in said housing; an actuator shaft mounted in said housing for axial and rotational movement; means for maintaining said shaft in a neutral axial position; twocam members pivotally mounted in said housing; each of said cam members having means for engaging and actuating a control element; a cam engaging element rotatably mounted on said actuatorshaft and fixed against axial movement with respect to said shaft; means for preventing rotation of said cam engaging element with respect to said housing; said cam members disposed to be pivoted selectively by said cam engaging element when said actuator shaft is moved respectively in one direction or the other from said neutral axial position; a rotary cam mounted for rotation with said shaft by means of a spline connection; two follower arms each pivotally mounted in said housing for engaging and actuating a control element; said follower arms disposed to be pivoted selectively by said rotary cam when said actuator shaft is rotated in one direction or the other from a neutral rotational position; said rotary cam being maintained in said neutral rotational position by associated spring loaded control elements acting through said follower arms; and a control rod connected to said actuator shaft and extending from said housing for moving said shaft axially androtationally.

4. A pendant control device comprising a housing; four spring loaded valves mounted in said housing; an actuator shaft mounted in said housing for axial and rotational movement; means for maintaining said shaft in a neutral axial position; a cam engaging element rotatably mounted on said shaft and fixed against axial movement with respect thereto; means for preventing rotation of said cam engaging element with respect to said housing; a first cam member, pivotally mounted in said housing, having means for engaging and unseating a valve and disposed to be pivoted when said shaft is moved in one direction from said neutral axial position; a second cam member, pivotally mounted in said housing, having means for actuating another valve and disposed to be pivoted when said shaft is moved in the other direction from said neutral axial position; a rotary cam nonrotatably mounted on said shaft by means of a spline connection; two follower arms each pivotally mounted to engage and unseat other of said valves; said rotary cam having cam surfaces engaging said follower arms adapted to pivot selectively one or the other of said arms when said shaft is rotated in one direction or the other from a neutral rotational position; said cam and shaft being maintained in said neutral rotational position by the associated spring loaded valves acting through said arms;'a dog on said cam for engagement with said follower arms to limit rotation of said cam and shaft in either direction from said neutral rotational position; and a control rod connected to said actuator shaft by means of a universal joint to provide an extension of said actuator shaft.

5. A pendant control device comprising a housing; four spring loaded electric switches mounted in said housing;'an actuator shaft mounted in said housing for axial and rotational movement; means for maintaining said shaft in a neutral axial position; a cam engaging element rotatably mounted on said shaft and fixed against axial movement with respect thereto; means for preventing rotation of said cam engaging element with respect to said housing; a first cam member pivotally mounted in said housing, having means for actuating one switch and disposed to be pivoted when said shaft is moved in one direction from said neutral axial position; a second cam member pivotally mounted in said housing having means for actuating another switch and disposed to'be pivoted when said shaft is moved in the other direction from said neutral axial position; a rotary cam nonrotatably mounted on said shaft by means of a spline connection; two follower arms each pivotally mounted to actuate other of said switches; said rotary cam having cam surfaces engaging said follower arms adapted to pivot selectively one or the other of said arms when said shaft is rotated in one direction or the other from a neutral rotational position; said cam and shaft being maintained in said neutral rotational position by the associated spring loaded switches acting through said arms; a dog on said cam for v engagement with said follower arms to limit rotation of said cam and shaft'in either direction from said neutral rotational position; and a-control rod connected to-said I actuator shaft by means of a universal joint to provide an extension of said actuator shaft. V g

6. The invention defined in claim 3, together with a References (Iited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Mallet et al May 12, 1936 Stringer June 20, 1939 a 8 Overbeke Dec. 21, Tydon Ian. 9, Buchanan Oct. 16, Buchanan -2 Oct. 16, Eaton Nov. 11, Woodruff Nov. 4, Stone Feb. 11, Eitel July 1, 

4. A PENDANT CONTROL DEVICE COMPRISING A HOUSING; FOUR SPRING LOADED VALVES MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING; AN ACTUATOR SHAFT MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING FOR AXIAL AND ROTATIONAL MOVEMENT; MEANS FOR MAINTAINING SAID SHAFT IN A NEUTRAL AXIAL POSITION; A CAM ENGAGING ELEMENT ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT AND FIXED AGAINST AXIAL MOVEMENT WITH RESPECT THERETO; MEANS FOR PREVENTING ROTATION OF SAID CAM ENGAGING ELEMENT WITH RESPECT TO SAID HOUSING; A FIRST CAM MEMBER, PIVOTALLY MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING, HAVING MEANS FOR ENGAGING AND UNSEATING A VALVE AND DISPOSED TO BE PIVOTED WHEN SAID SHAFT IS MOVED IN ONE DIRECTION FROM SAID NEUTRAL AXIAL POSITION; A SECOND CAM MEMBER, PIVOTALLY MOUNTED IN SAID HOUSING, HAVING MEANS FOR ACTUATING ANOTHER VALVE AND DISPOSED TO BE PIVOTED WHEN SAID SHAFT IS MOVED IN THE OTHER DIRECTION FROM SAID NEUTRAL AXIAL POSITION; A ROTARY CAM NONROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SHAFT BY MEANS OF A SPLINE CONNECTION; TWO FOLLOWER ARMS EACH PIVOTALLY MOUNTED TO ENGAGE AND UNSEAT OTHER OF SAID VALVES; SAID ROTARY CAM HAVING CAM SURFACES ENGAGING SAID FOLLOWER ARMS ADAPTED TO PIVOT SELECTIVELY ONE OR THE OTHER OF SAID ARMS WHEN SAID SHAFT IS ROTATED IN ONE DIRECTION OR THE OTHER FROM A NEUTRAL ROTATIONAL POSITION; SAID CAM AND SHAFT BEING MAINTAINED IN SAID NEUTRAL ROTATIONAL POSITION BY THE ASSOCIATED SPRING LOADED VALVES ACTING THROUGH SAID ARMS; A DOG ON SAID CAM FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID FOLLOWER ARMS TO LIMIT ROTATION OF SAID CAM AND SHAFT IN EITHER DIRECTION FROM SAID NEUTRAL ROTATIONAL POSITION; AND A CONTROL ROD CONNECTED TO SAID ACTUATOR SHAFT BY MEANS OF A UNIVERSAL JOINT TO PROVIDE AN EXTENSION OF SAID ACTUATOR SHAFT. 